A Handwritten Thank You

How often do you receive handwritten letters anymore? Nowadays, it’s likely from your parents or grandparents who still see the true value and joy of sending a handwritten note. Think about it, we live in a digital age, you can just as easily email, text, or heck now you can even send a voice message through your Alexa! Let’s face it a handwritten note is time-consuming and quickly becoming a task of the past.

First, you likely don’t have any stationary on hand so you either have to order it and wait a few days or you have to drive to the store, fight the parking, pick out the perfect card, fight the checkout line, then drive home. Sounds like a lot of work to me. Not to mention, you then have to sit down and actually think about what you are about to write. We all know it never comes out right the first time and I’m notorious for spelling mistakes (whiteout and scribbles just don’t have the same good vibes, but it’s the thought that counts…right?!) Unfortunately I am also a perfectionist and end up going through like 3 cards before getting it juuuuust right. OK phew… the hard part is over, card written!!! Oh wait now you need a stamp, back to the store I go. OK now it’s done! But don’t forget to address it…WAAAA? You mean you don’t have that stored in your phone and with a click of a button it’s off and delivered?

OK, I may have overdone it a bit, but in all honesty, it’s hard to write a handwritten note, and it takes time. Time we can all say we just don’t have. But take a step back, think of how you felt the last time you received a handwritten note. Maybe it was a holiday card, an invitation, or if you’re lucky it was just because. However the best kind, in my opinion, is a handwritten thank you card. Side note… I don’t know about you, but I hardly ever check our mail anymore, so much so the mailman literally pulled everything out of our mailbox and put it on our doorstep! TRUE STORY! But I just already know if it’s not junk it’s a bill. I pay everything online and hate seeing a pile of mail I didn’t ask for. That moment though when you see your name handwritten on a colorful envelope… pure joy!

For the argument of this post, let’s say it was a Thank You note, from a close friend. Isn’t that the best?! You think, wow this person took the time to not only get this card but to sit down and write out their feelings of gratitude. A card that I can read over and over, maybe even put up on the mantle to enjoy for a few weeks. You just can’t get that with a text. It gets swallowed up by the endless stream of messages, more emails, or disappears after Alexa repeats it.

Through all of the digital advances, I truly believe there is still value in a handwritten note, call me an old soul, but it’s a small burden to bring someone so much joy. For that reason alone, I will forever handwrite my thank you cards. It may take me a few weeks to finally send it, but again it’s the thought that counts right? RIGHT! So if you happen to be inspired to send some joy to a loved one, a close friend, or someone just because, below are a few of my favorite places for cards!